Reviews

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee where we get to answer a weekly question and find new friends and followers!This week I was chosen to be one of the two featured bloggers. I just wanted to thank both lovely hosts for giving everyone such an amazing opportunity to find and meet new people. I am very excited to be a Feature. Thank you.In case some of you don't know me. My name is Aneta, I am in my last year of high school, and I absolutely love to read books. I love reading everything YA, but my favorite genre would have to be Fantasy. I love meeting new people so don't be afraid to say hello :)

Question of the Week:Time for Book Spine Poetry again! Take a picture of your book spines spelling out something epic.My Answer:

"Forgotten Hero,

Golden Fury,

Hunted,

Until I die."

I'd like to thank my friend Kelly for helping me out with this challenge, and letting me use some of her books.

Feel free to leave your link in the comments below, I'd love to see your Book Spine Poetry, Thanks so much for visiting.

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

Why I'm waiting for this?

I absolutely love this cover, it was the first thing that hooked me. And when I read the synopsis I knew I had to get my hands on this book. I absolutely love books that take place in the older centuries with the pretty dresses and olden talk. The whole thing about trolls sounds really interesting, I haven't read a book with trolls yet, I'm really excited to see how this book turns out.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Synopsis: “My mom had always told me – when you meet “the one”, you’ll know; they’ll captivate your heart the moment you lay eyes on them. I had always wondered, though, if my mom’s words of wisdom were finite – if they applied to everyone. Maybe those who had found their one great love were the lucky few, and maybe the rest of us would have to settle for less than earth-shattering.”

Seventeen-year-old Kat Walsh is a Gifted – a human with paranormal abilities. With her mom a former Angel and her dad a dream prophet, it’s always been in her genetic make-up to be extraordinary. Unfortunately for her, the world can’t handle the strange or unusual. So when she slips up and uses her powers at her high school in Ireland, the entire student body treats her like a freak – even the ones she thought were her closest friends.

Broken, but hopeful for a fresh start, she allows her parents to enroll her in a boarding school buried deep within the forests of a small Colorado town. At Midland Pines, School for the Gifted, she feels as though she can finally be herself; she makes new friends and even has the attention of the most popular guy in school – Levi. Everything feels normal again… or does it?

Not long after her arrival, weird dreams of an alluring boy whom she’s never met surface during the night, and the eerie, shadowy trees encircling their school seem to call to her. As these disturbing, yet enticing developments intensify, other bizarre occurrences happen – students and staff turn up missing, and mystery visitors leave gifts while she sleeps. With all of these other things vying for her attention, a desperate Levi has to fight even harder to keep her interest. But with the dreams of the attractive boy slowly captivating her heart, Kat has to make a choice – will she settle for ‘great’ Levi, or will she search for her elusive dream visitor, possibly stumbling across ‘amazing?’

From the author of the Alyx Rayer Chronicles, comes a refreshingly different Young Adult series with plenty of love, suspense, and a new take on the Paranormal.

Recommended for readers 16 and up due to mature content.

My Opinion: Wow! This cover is.. well its captivating! I honestly can't get over how beautiful the girl's eyes look. They're so green I just can't stop staring at them. The synopsis and cover are both amazing and make me want to read the book really bad.

About the Author

Susan James Pierce has a degree in Marketing Management, works for a Fortune 500 company in Atlanta, Georgia, and devotes her precious, spare time to writing Fantasy and Sci-fi novels. Even though her full-time career has nothing to do with books at all, she has always enjoyed complex storytelling with fascinating characters, and has had a penchant for the written word since grade school. As a matter of fact, her first publishing credit was a poem she wrote at the age of twelve. Why her love for writing never translated into a career, she can only attribute to 'life happens', but her wish is that she can redirect her career path into something that satisfies her creative inner-self.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Series: The Syrena Legacy #1Publication Date: May 22nd 2014Genre: YA, Fantasy, MermaidsAmazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&NGoodreads Summary: Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom...

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

My Rating: 5/5 starsMy Review: This book was absolutely amazing! I was instantly sucked into a beautiful underwater world.Emma is your typical shy girl, everything seems incredibly normal about her, except her eyes which are violet. Believing she is the only one, she is shocked when she accidentally bumps into Galen, not only does he have the exact same color of eyes, but she also feels a connection to him.When Galen bumped into Emma, he believed that she was one of the Syrena, one of his kind. But staying on land is illegal. Not knowing if shes one of them or just wearing contacts, he chases after her into the water, only to discover that underwater, Emma and a shark were having a battle over her best friends body. When he witnesses Emma order away a shark, and him actually listening, he realizes that she is no ordinary human. He must find out if she is of Poseidon. This book hooked me right from the start. This book had an exciting beginning, there was tons of action, with a hint of mystery. I loved the fantastic world that Anna Banks created in this book, we got to know Emma's world very well, and some of Galen's. I wish we got to know more of how the Syrenas live underwater. They spoke many times of home, but they never really explained how everything looks and how the Syrena live down there.The character development was fantastic, we see Emma go from being a shy little girl who hides behind her loud friend all the time, to a more mature version that stands up for herself and others she cares about. Even though I thought of her as week in the beginning, she definitely showed her strength later on.I absolutely love Galen, he just feels like a real man to me! He keeps his emotions well hidden, and he does everything in his will to protect his people. I love how he has a thirst for knowledge of the human world, he is just a really well rounded character, oh and hes hot too.While Galen and Emma's romance is just heart warming and heart breaking. The romance that goes on between Rayna and Toraf is just brilliant. I must say that I actually liked it more that the main romance. Rayna and Toraf's romance is hilarious and brilliant! These two characters were by far my favorite! And they made the story line so much more interesting.

This book is just wonderful all together! It is perfect for everyone who loves fantasy, especially mermaid tales! I'm sure you will all enjoy this series.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Publication Date: February 2014Genre: YA, Fantasy~Goodreads~Goodreads Summary: All her life, clever Aemi has been a slave in the Village of the Rocks, a place where the sea and sky meet. She’s heard the stories about the fabled People of the Sea, a people who possess unimaginable technology who live below the waves in the dark, secret places of the ocean. But she never dreamed those stories were true.

When a ship emerges from the ocean and men burn her village, Aemi is captured, and enslaved below the waves in Itlantis, a world filled with ancient cities of glass and metal, floating gardens, and wondrous devices that seem to work magic. To make matters worse, her village nemesis, the stuck-up mayor’s son Nol, was captured with her, and they are made servants in the same household beneath the sea.

Desperate to be free, Aemi plots her escape, even going so far as to work with Nol. But the sea holds more secrets than she realizes, and escape might not be as simple as leaving…

My Opinion: This cover is beautiful! It looks mysterious in some ways, but gentle and feminine. I absolutely love the font of the letters and the amazing background. The girl (I'm guessing its Aemi) looks really pretty. Could you imagine how long it took to make her dress! All that shading, I definitely have to give props. Congratulations on making a fantastic cover.

About the Author

I've been making up stories since I was five years old, and now I'm thrilled to be able to do it as a full-time job. I have an obsession with dark fantasy, dystopian futures, and Pride and Prejudice-style love stories full of witty banter and sizzling, unspoken feelings. When I'm not writing, I'm creating digital art, reading funny blogs, or watching my favorite shows (which include TVD and BSG). I live with my geeky husband and our two bad cats in Atlanta, GA.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

City of Heavenly Fireby Cassandra ClarePublication Date: May 27th 2014Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&NGoodreads Summary:ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. I am coming.Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance? Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last installment of the Mortal Instruments series!Why I'm Waiting For This?OH MY GOD!!! It feels like I've been waiting 20 years for this book to come out! I can't wait to buy a copy and hold it in my hands.The Mortal Instruments is one of my favorite series. City of Bones was the book that made me addicted to reading, and I am so glad I read it 4 years ago. I absolutely admire Cassandra Clare's writing, she is probably one of my favorite authors of all time. She could write about anything and it would become a major hit!I want to read this book right now, but then again I don't want this series to end. But I will read it anyways, I plan to skip school that day, go to the mall as soon as it opens and buy a copy and then spend the rest of my day reading in my room, probably with a box of tissues beside me. I can't wait to see what happens to Jace and his new superpowers, what happens to Malec, and the moment I have been waiting for since Clockwork Princess came out... The moment Clary meets Tessa! It will be epic!

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Series: Tallitha Mouldson #1Publication Date: September 26th 2013Genre: YA, Fantasy, Adventure Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Book DepositoryGoodreads Summary: ‘The Morrow Secrets’ is a high-fantasy gothic adventure story written for children in the 10 to 14 year age group but also enjoyed by adults who love delving into the world of mystery, suspense, imagination and make-believe. It is the first book in a series about Tallitha Mouldson, a headstrong girl caught up in the sinister web of her eccentric family, the powerful Morrow dynasty. This fantasy saga is set in an alternative world and begins in a strange, rambling house called Winderling Spires in the land of Wycham Elva. The Morrow Secrets is an epic tale of dark forces, with a beguiling mystery to be solved, an exciting yarn of deception with frightening twists and wicked turns. The story has weird, whimsical characters, some motivated by wicked intent. They lurk round corners... watching Tallitha and luring her further into the dreadful secret....

It is a story of the heroine’s fight against the evil forces that have shaped the past and still surround her present. Tallitha is determined to unearth the family secret and so begins her breath-taking adventure, exploring the forbidden floors of the bizarre old house and discovering a number of intriguing clues which lead her ever further into the heart of the mystery. During her quest, Tallitha discovers she has inherited strange paranormal powers, passed down the female line of the Morrow clan. With the help of her eccentric cousin Esmerelda, Tallitha escapes the clutches of her suffocating family and makes her way across the dangerous terrain of Wycham Elva into the wilderness and the dark world of Breedoor. Accompanied by her brother and cousins she learns more about the mysterious past of the Morrow family, she forges new allegiances, endures terrifying challenges and encounters the strange creatures of the underground kingdom. Eventually she reaches the haunting castle of Hellstone Tors and the awesome truth about her family is laid bare...

My Rating: 4/5 stars

My Review: I am very grateful to have won a copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads. This book takes you on a fantastic adventure that makes you thirsty for more.

Tallitha is next in line to rule the Morrow House! But sewing, painting and other things she is forced to do just bore her. Tallitha wants adventure, she wants to go exploring and see the outside world. When Tallitha and her brother Tyaas uncover a book that belonged to a mystery Morrow that they had never heard of before, they realize that their family has some pretty big secrets, and Tallitha wont stop until she figures them out.

When I first started reading, I wasn't too trilled. Even though I instantly fell in love with Tallitha and her thirst for knowledge, I was afraid that this book wouldn't have much world building, but I was completely wrong. It isn't until a quarter into the book where you actually get to explore new places along with Tallitha and Tyaas, it felt like forever, but the adventure they go on is filled with creepy places, scary creatures and dangers around every corner. Absolutely fantastic.

The characters in this book were all very interesting. You already know that I like Tallitha, maybe because she reminds me of a younger version of me. I also really like her brother Tyaas, he is just like Tallitha, actually he might be even more adventurous and headstrong, trust me he wont back out of exploring anything! The characters that I had some problems with are Cissy and Benedict. I actually really liked Cissy in the beginning, she is such a sweetie, but there is one part in the book where she sells out Tallitha and Tyaas, even though she was being pressured, she didn't put up much of a fight and it made her seem really weak. Secondly, Benedict was just a pain from the start. He is really annoying, he doesn't want to do anything, and he whined pretty much throughout the whole book. Even tough I understand why the author had him in this book, I felt like it would have been more enjoyable if Benedict the party pooper wasn't with them on their adventure. But other than these two characters, there are lots of very interesting people and creatures to meet, and I'm sure you will like them much much more.

This book is absolutely perfect for Teens and Pre-Teens who love the wonderful world of Fantasy. I am very excited to continue this adventure with Tallitha when the next book comes out!

Obsidian by Jennifer L. ArmentroutSeries: Lux #1I absolutely love recommending this book to people. My best friend Kelly actually recommended this book to me quite recently, and when she first told me about it, I thought it actually sounded pretty stupid. I mean aliens? That just sounds like a lame scary movie. But this book was actually amazing! A lot of people compared it to Twilight, and I actually thought that myself for a chapter or two, but trust me its nothing like Twilight! This book has a strong female character, and loving best friend, and of course a super sexy male character that you can't help falling in love with. I try to recommend this book to all the Fantasy fans out there! I can almost guarantee you 100% that you will fall in love with this series.My Review of Obsidian

I got this book from Netgalley, and it actually doesn't come out till April of this year. But ever since I read it, I have been highly recommending it to my friends and telling them all about it and how awesome it is. This book is filled with tons of action, and even though the beginning is a little confusing, it totally makes up for it near the end. This book has twists and turns in the plot that even I didn't see coming. Its filled with really dangerous creature that were believed to be legends. I feel like everyone will like this book, because the two main characters are so relateable to everyone, not to mention they're pretty kick ass themselves.

I've actually only recommended this book to two people before, but they both talked to me after they read it, and they were amazed at how good it was.

This book has a very different style of writing, but once you get used to it and you understand it then it really becomes an amazing book. There is so much world-building and character-building I was honestly amazed. I loved the main character Saba from the very beginning because of her love towards her brother and her determination and perseverance. But by the end of this book, she because an even better character, which I thought was impossible. I honestly cant name a single thing wrong with this book, other than the different style of writing which might be hard for some people to read, but I actually ended up loving it, because it signifies that this is a dystopia where people cant read and aren't intelligent in how to write.

This book. Where to begin. So in the small writing on the cover, it says that its perfect for fans of Hunger Games and Game of Thrones. And since I am a huge fan of both, I decided to give this book a try. It has become one of my favorite books ever. Celaena Sardothien (main character) is my girl crush! I love everything about her. She is beautiful, and deadly. She is one of the most famous assassins, and she has definitely earned her tittle, she knows how to win a fight even if its her against 12 strong men. And if that wasn't enough for you, she has a soft side, she loves animals and books. And unlike all the other assassins and killers out there, she does have a conscience.

This series is filled with action, adventure, romance, and mystery. I recommend this to everyone! You will like it, I will bet you $100.

This is actually another book I got from Netgalley. I requested it because the cover is just amazing! But the story inside the book is even better. I highly recommend this book to the LOTR fans out there, its fairly similar, except the fact that the elves have Lion guardians, whom they can comunicate with and get advice and/or battle alongside them. Its like having your best friend be a cuddly Lion that can kill all your enemies for you. This book actually has a fairly low rating on goodreads, and I have no clue why. There is tons of world and character building. There is lots of action and there are lions in it. I mean doesn't that sound awesome!! Well either way, I am planning on buying a copy for myself and for my friends to read.

I wasn't sure about this book when I was first recommended it, but let me tell you, I read this book in 6 hours, without taking a bathroom break, or a food break or anything. It was that good. I could not let it out of my sight. I even think I slept with it for a night (I can't believe I'm actually telling you this).

So lately I have been obsessed with The Walking Dead, as many people out there have been! Well this is something fairly close to it, except that instead of zombies, the Earth is overrun by Angels. What you believe to be these holy creatures of goodness, are actually dangerous and manipulating. The two main characters are just perfect (except I don't like the name Penryn). Just trust me, you have to read this book and find out for yourself, but if you do read it, do it on a night where you don't have any plans, because you will be glued to this book.

Friday, January 17, 2014

The Appeal of Evil by Pembroke SinclairPublishing date: January 17th 2014Genre: YA, Paranormal, RomanceAmazon ~ GoodreadsGoodreads Summary: Katie wants to invest her heart and soul in love, but she may lose both to Hell.

Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the “good” guy, her childhood friend Wes who makes promises he doesn’t keep and abandons her when she needs him the most, and the “bad” guy, the new kid at school Josh who is also a real demon from Hell. Katie wants someone who pays attention to her and puts her first, but what is she willing to give up to find him?

About the Author

I have had several short stories, novels, and novellas published. My story, “Sohei,” was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by The Cynic Online Magazine. I have novellas and a short story collection available from Musa Publishing and eTreasures Publishing. I have a novella, The History of My Wishes, published by MuseItUp Publishing. My novels, Coming from Nowhere (adult, sci fi), Life After the Undead (YA, horror), and Death to the Undead (YA, sequel to Life After the Undead) are available from eTreasures Publishing. Life After the Undead was a Top Ten Finisher in the Preditors and Editors Reader’s Poll in the YA category and the cover art category.

In April, I have a middle grade novel called The Ifs coming out, which will be published by Little Devil Books. I also have two picture books that will be available from eTreasures Publishing. All of the children's titles are written under the pen name J.D. Pooker. Under Pembroke Sinclair, I also have an adult urban fantasy novel entitled Wucaii that will be published by MuseItUp Publishing.

Under my real name, Jessica Robinson, from March 2008 to January 2011, I wrote scientific articles for Western Farmer-Stockman. I have a nonfiction book, Life Lessons from Slasher Films, published in July 2012 from Scarecrow Publishing (an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield).

I have my Master’s in English, and I am a freelance content editor for Musa Publishing, as well as a former content and line editor for eTreasures Publishing.

The bell rang as Katie slowly made her way
to the locker room. She reached forward to grab the door handle when someone
grabbed her from behind and lifted her up. A squeak of surprise escaped her
lips, but no other sound came out. A hand covered her mouth. Really? Katie
thought. Again? He’s going to pay for it this time. She struggled against her
attacker, but his grip was too strong. He lifted her like she weighed no more
than a doll. He carried her toward the gymnastic storage area and stepped over
the mats until they were in the far back corner, covered in shadow.

Wes set her down but refused to take his
hand of her mouth. Katie clawed and scratched at his hand and arm and attempted
to kick him. Wes calmly grabbed her wrists with his free hand and pressed his
body against hers so she couldn’t attack him anymore. Her face turned red and
anger boiled through her veins. She screamed even though his hand was still
over her mouth.

“Katie, please, calm down. I’m not going to
hurt you.”

In response, she struggled against his
body—a futile attempt since he was so much stronger than she was.

Wes opened his mouth to speak again, but
the words never came out. Instead, a familiar, “Again?” echoed through the
storage space, and Wes was pulled away from Katie. Josh had him by the back of
the collar and threw him onto a pile of mats. Katie took deep breaths and moved
away from the wall to get a better view.

“Why can’t you take a hint, Wes? The lady
doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

Wes got to his feet and brought his fists
up, ready to fight. The space was big enough that there was a few feet between
the two boys, but if things escalated, Katie would be caught in the middle of
the battle.

“Yeah, well, she wouldn’t want you if she
knew what you really were.”

Josh threw his head back and laughed. “And
what is that, Wes? A nice, clean cut boy who actually pays attention to her and
wants to be around her?”

Josh clicked his tongue on the roof of his
mouth. “I’m afraid I don’t. I think you may be delusional.”

Katie had her back pressed against the wall
and slowly slid her way to the opening so she could run into the gym and get
help. Josh was doing a great job of staying between her and Wes.

“Don’t listen to him, Katie. He’s only
using you to get to me.”

Katie glanced over Josh’s shoulder. Wes had
taken his eyes off his opponent for a second and stared at her, a pleading look
in his eyes. Typical, she thought. Wes always thought things were about him.
Someone needed to let him know the world didn’t revolve around him. She tore
her gaze from his and continued toward the exit. Wes sensed her intention and
moved so he blocked the opening. He was within an arm’s length of Josh.

Josh shook his head. “C’mon, Wes. That’s
not very nice. If Katie wants to leave, you should allow her to leave.”

“No. I’m not letting you do this to her.”

Josh laughed. “Do what? Show her how a real
boyfriend is supposed to treat her?”

Katie stopped for a second and glanced at
Josh. Did he just say what she thought he said? Boyfriend? Could it really be
true? Was that how he viewed their thing? Katie wasn’t exactly sure what was
going on, but she was going to rethink it the next time she got the chance. If
the situation hadn’t been so dire, she would have let the inner smile play
across her lips.

Wes’s face crunched in anger, his fists
balled at his sides. Without another word, he lunged forward. Wes and Josh fell
to the ground, right at Katie’s feet. Wes sat on Josh’s chest and slammed his
fist into the side of Josh’s head. Katie screamed.

“Stop it! Wes! Leave him alone!”

She wanted to jump between the two to make
him stop, but she was afraid of getting hit. The pupils in Wes’s eyes were
dilated, completely blocking out the brown that was normally there. Rage
shrouded his face. Fear squeezed Katie’s chest. She’d never seen him act like
that before. She continued her trek toward the opening. If she couldn’t stop
him, Ms. Bode would have to.

Wes brought his fist up by his shoulder to
smash into Josh’s face again. As he brought it down, Josh grabbed it and
stopped him. Katie stopped and watched the two of them. Josh stared at Wes, a
smile curling his lips. Blood stained Josh’s teeth.

“That all you got?” With a growl and
movement almost too fast for Katie to see, Josh pushed Wes.

Wes sailed across the room, through the
opening, and slammed into the wall several yards away. Katie’s jaw fell open.
What just happened? No one was that strong. Josh got to his feet and wiped the
blood from his nose with the back of his hand. He stared at Wes, who sat on the
floor, his head hanging on his chest.

Josh reached his right hand behind him,
toward Katie. “C’mon. He won’t bother you for a while.”

Katie hesitated taking the offered hand.
Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, her head swam with confusion. How did
Josh throw Wes like that?

Josh looked over his shoulder at her.
“You’re not going to get another chance. Are you coming or what?”

Katie shook herself out of her daze and
grabbed Josh’s hand. The pair stepped over the mats and through the opening.
They stopped in front of Wes. He looked up at them, his eyes taking a moment to
focus. Katie glanced into the gym. Why wasn’t anyone else coming to help them?
Surely they heard the fight, her screaming.

The door to the girl’s locker room opened
in slow motion. Two of her classmates walked out, but their movement wasn’t
normal. They, too, were stuck in slow motion.

“Hey!” she called to them and tried to run
up to them, but Josh had a tight grip on her hand and wouldn’t let go.

“They can’t do anything to help you,” Josh
said softly. “They don’t even know what’s happening.”

Katie’s breath caught in her throat. She
turned back to Josh, eyes wide. “What is happening?” The words barely made it
out of her mouth. Josh smiled.

“Let her go. I’m the one you want,” Wes
croaked from the floor.

Josh knelt down in front of him,
inadvertently pulling Katie closer since he wouldn’t let go of her hand. “You
know I’m not going to do that. Besides, you never know how useful she’s
actually going to be.”

Wes attempted to lunge for Josh, but his
balance was off and he fell to one side. Josh laughed. Katie stared down the
hall at the two girls as they headed to class. She reached for them, hoping
they’d sense her desperation and turn around. Josh jerked on her hand, pulling
her into his body. Her back was against his chest, and he wrapped his arm
around her shoulders. His breath tickled her ear lobe.

“Take one last look, Katie. It might be the
last time you see him.”

Katie stared down at Wes. He struggled to
get to his feet. Pain pinched his face, along with something else. For a
moment, Katie thought it looked like sadness. He reached for her. Involuntarily,
she reached for him too. Then, the world was shrouded in blackness.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee where we get to answer a weekly question and find new friends and followers!

Question of the Week
Who is your blogger BFF? Tell us a little but about him or her? If not tell us why you need or don't need a blogger BFF.

My Answer
You want me to pick just one? I think that's impossible! I have met so many amazing people here in the blogging community. Everyone is so nice and friendly. I wish I could chose everyone to be my blogger BFF.

But I guess I have to narrow it down. Well theses two lovely ladies have been very supportive and super friendly. Also, they have some pretty amazing blogs.

Feli from The Four Eyed Cat has been my friend ever since I started blogging. I found her on goodreads and we have been friends ever since. We both have the same taste in books, and we are both 17. Not only does Feli post really great reviews, but shes also amazing at art!

Angel from -Spare Reads- is one of the sweetest and loveliest people I have ever met! I absolutely love her blog, and I love her reviews. She reads some pretty awesome books. And we are hoping on reading World After by Susan Ee together some time in the future.

Please check out both of these amazing blogs! These girls definitely deserve to have a billion followers! That's how awesome they are.

Thanks for reading, leave your link in the comments so I can check out your blog :)
Have a good weekend everyone!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Wasteland by Lindsay LeggettSeries: Flight #2Publishing Date: December 27th 2013Genre: YA, Science Fiction, DystopiaAmazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&NGoodreads Summary: Wasteland, the next book in the FLIGHT trilogy, takes place a few months after the ending of book one.

Trapped in a cell and experimented on, Piper Madden’s only hope is remembering Asher. Then, Elder Corp President Rupert Elder gives her new orders: to be a leader in a war against the Harpies. Without a choice, Piper must obey Rupert’s commands or suffer from paralyzing and painful Nanomachines. But the war is just beginning, and Asher has gone missing. The resistance is slowly building, and the upcoming war will be larger and bloodier than anything seen since the Devastation that ruined the earth. Throughout all of this, Piper remembers the time before she ran to Ichton, when David was alive and her hope in Elder Corp was still strong.

Goodreads Summary:The first rule of survival in the Underground: When you’re outside, keep your eyes on the skies. Ace Harpy Hunter Piper Madden is used to danger, but the death of her brother slams the brakes on her high-torque lifestyle and leaves her broken and confused.

On the run from the dictating Elder Corporation, she’s eventually found in the quiet undergound city of Ichton and asked to work for the Corp on contract to quell a new and frightening Harpy threat.

Enter the discovery of horrifying Corporation secrets, Harpy attacks, and a new friendship with the strange Asher, and Piper’s days become anything but boring.

Then, a chance encounter leaves Piper privy to a dangerous secret, ad as she and Asher team up in an effort to unravel the truth, the secrets they uncover beneath the ancient walls of the dead city will spark their world into a grand-scale war.

About the Author

Nearly every writer struggles to put together information about themselves, perhaps because we’re so used to detailing the lives and ways of others. For the most part I am a writer, editor, photographer, and all-around artist living in the wilds north of Toronto, Ontario. I thrive on the juxtaposition of beauty and grit, enjoy urban crawls, indie everything, and time well-spent in the woods.

Light shines on me, and I groan as shocks of pain spread behind my eyes. I realize I’m lying in the corner of the cell, curled up into a ball. My hair is knotted and dirty, and almost all of the red dye has now faded. I squint toward the light, seeing only a dark figure smudging its bright rays.

As my eyes adjust, so does the outline of Rupert Elder. His suit is ebony and spotless, and gold earrings capture his ears. He’s alone, and shuts the cell door behind him, leaving us in momentary darkness before the cell’s faint lighting flickers on.

He stares down at me, an arrogant grin across his lips. He has me exactly where he needs me; weak and pumped full of whatever he’s had his techs administering into my system. My arms are covered with tract marks and bruises from the large needles. I hate what he has reduced me to, but I am losing my will to keep moving.

Just remember him. Think of how he is fighting for you. Fight for him.

“Piper Madden,” Rupert drawls. He crouches down to my level and runs his fingers across my cheek. I shudder involuntarily. His hands are cold as ice, and his breath stinks of stale cigar smoke. His many rings glint in the fluorescent light.

“What do you want from me?” I gasp. My voice is sparse; my mouth is dry. I can’t even scream as he lifts me from my armpits and drags me up onto the bench where I usually sleep. He drops me on the far corner and then seats himself, swiping his pants as if he were infected just from touching me.

“I just wanted to show you some of the new initiatives the Hunter program has begun,” he says, his voice shallow and cheerful. He pulls a small tablet from his pocket, presses a button, and it lights up. It’s a portable vid-screen, I realize. Must be new technology. I can’t help but wonder how many citizens now own one, the Corp monitoring their every move, their every transaction.

Rupert slides his thumb along the screen, then presses down. A video pops up onto the screen, and he holds it in front of me for me to watch.

At first I just hear voices; the usual sounds of rush hour in Central, but then the video comes into focus, and the voices turn to chants and vicious shouting. The video was taken at one of the town squares. The area has been cordoned off, and in the middle of the intersection, there were two people chained to large metal posts.

But then the camera zooms, and I realize that the figures are not people; they’re Harpies. Their wings have been pinned around the posts, and their eyes are listless, broken. One of them looks to be a child. Tears spring to my eyes, pulling from the last dredges of hydration I have left. The young one is a little girl, looking up to the fake sky in search of some kind of rescue. A rescue I know never came.

The chanting grows louder; the people of Central throw bits of rubble at them. Then Rupert appears. In the video he is dressed as he is now, only with a microphone set clipped onto one of his jeweled ears.

“My dear people of Central. In front of you I have brought the enemy. The ones who wish to kill and eat your children. The ones who threaten your lives every day. But we will not let them frighten us. We will show them how strong we are, that we can bring them down. Who is the superior race?” he shouts.

“Humans!” the crowd launches back. My teeth are clenching, but I can’t take my eyes away.

“Let us prove to the Harpies that Elder Corporation has the control of this world. We will rise and take over the planet, just as we were meant to!” he growls. The crowd grows rowdier.

Two Hunters march into the square in full Hunter dress regalia; stiff jackets with the Elder crest. They wear helmets, so I cannot tell who they are, but they look young. New. Malleable. Both are carrying large guns. They stand before the Harpies, who do not protest, who are not vicious or feral, but who tremble with fear.

Then there is fire. Everywhere, flames as the Hunters discharge their weapons. The flames are tinged red, diluted with augmented Hunter blood. After a few moments the Hunters back away, and once the fire subsides, all that is left of the two Harpies is ash.

My stomach turns, and I fight the urge to gag.

“You’re sick,” I spit at Rupert. He raises his eyebrows.

“Oh, really? I was under the impression that you were the one who was sick; your mind, torn apart by anguish and a disgusting affair with a monster. I am a savior to these people, Piper. I protect them. All I’m doing is giving them proof that they are safe,” he says.

And there is nothing that I can even say, because I know that is what the people believe. Everyone believes Elder Corp. What other choice do they have? To them, life is perfect here. They may live underground, but they want for nothing. They have their holo-sky and their Pure Air generators and lab-grown food, and now, they have Harpy executions, to remind them that the only reason they live in this utopia is Elder Corporation.

“Why don’t you just kill me?” I say finally. Rupert furrows his brows for a moment, and then bursts out laughing, his chuckle ringing hollow from the cell walls.

“I would never kill you, Miss Madden. You are far too valuable, don’t you see?” he replies.

I don’t see. What use am I to him trapped and broken?

“What have you done to me?” Fear pervades my voice as I say this, as I look over the bruises from so many needles. He’s been experimenting on me, I know this. But what is his plan? What does he expect me to become?

“You will see, soon enough. Now get up. Your muscles have been wasting away. You look like you’re on your last legs from radiation poisoning. I thought you were stronger than that,” he commands.

I try to stand, but my body is slow to obey me, and my muscles are weak. Rupert stands up and reaches his arms over, forcing me off the bench and onto the ground. My face lands first; blood drips from my nose.

“Now stand, Hunter.”

I try my hardest not to groan as I push myself up. Blood flows from my nostrils over my lips and off my chin. I grit my teeth, the metallic taste of my own blood filling my mouth. Once I’m upright, Rupert pushes me into the cell wall, and I slide down to the floor, the blow causing me to lose my wind.

“Again.”

I refuse to let him beat me. I can hear Asher’s voice in my mind, telling me to be strong, telling me not to break, because I’m better than that.

I stand up, faster this time. I clench my muscles, expecting another blow, but instead Rupert just grins. If I could right now, I’d punch that stupid smile from his mouth.

“You never fail to disappoint, Piper. You shouldn’t even be able to breathe from the amount of drugs in your system. I couldn’t be more proud,” he says.

I glare at him.

“What are you doing to me?” I say again, fiercer this time.

He walks slowly toward me, menacing and somehow comforting at the same time. He lifts his hand to my face, and I turn away, but he strokes my cheek softly, lovingly.

“I’m making you stronger. It might seem like hell now, but when the procedure is over, you’ll be the best Hunter the world has ever seen,” he whispers. His breath on me is toxic.

“After all of this, why me? I’m not a Hunter anymore,” I say. He steps back, only the hint of a smile left on his face.

“I’ve never lost faith in you. You have always been… like a daughter to me,” he says.

He gathers his things, and I keep my body pressed against the wall. Before he leaves, he turns back to me.

“I want you to work on your strength, every day. The stronger you get, the closer you will be toward gaining your freedom.”

The word echoes from his lips and reverberates throughout my body. Freedom. Is there such a thing?

He leaves, closing the door behind me. Soon my next meal will come; I’ve lost count of what time it is, so every meal is the same. Then Evan will come and administer the drugs, and my world will reset.

But what Rupert said doesn’t leave me. I can almost taste fresh air on my tongue; real fresh air, damp and drizzling from the sky.

And even though my body aches and my face is bloody, I start to work it, to gain back the strength I have lost. If it means freedom, I would do anything. But in the back of my mind, I know that this freedom will come with a steep price, and I need to be ready to pay it, or flee.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Salvageby Alexandra DuncanPublication Date: April 1st 2014Genre: YA, Dystopia, Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&NGoodreads Summary: Ava, a teenage girl living aboard the male-dominated deep space merchant ship Parastrata, faces betrayal, banishment, and death. Taking her fate into her own hands, she flees to the Gyre, a floating continent of garbage and scrap in the Pacific Ocean, in this thrilling, surprising, and thought-provoking debut novel that will appeal to fans of Across the Universe, by Beth Revis, and The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood.

Why I'm Waiting For This?
Well the synopsis sounds pretty awesome! And the cover is absolutely stunning. Why wouldn't I be waiting for this?
I can't wait to buy this once it comes out. You can never have too many Dystopia books!

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Hi everyone, my name is Aneta, Born in Poland, living in Canada. When I'm not studying for university, I'm either at home with a good book and my puppy beside me, or I'm out playing soccer with my friends. I love meeting new people so don't be shy!!